SEPARATION OF OIL FROM OIL-IN-WATER MIXTURE BY GLASS FIBER BEDS

Abstract

Separation of oil droplets in oil-in-water mixture was studied by using a glass fiber bed coalescer. Fuel oil (B-type) was used as the oil phase and was dispersed in water at a concentration of 1000 ppm. Glass fibers of 5.3 μm and 19μm diameter were used as packing media. The relationship between the pressure drop across the bed and the oil holdup in the bed at steady state was examined under several experimental conditions and a correlated equation for the relationship was presented. The equation could predict not only the pressure drop at steady state but also those at unsteady states. A new correlation equation for separation efficiency of oil droplets was proposed.